Table-leg latch



Dec. 16, 1930. CORPORQN 1,785,616

TABLE LEG LATCH Filed Jan. 18, 1929 Patented Dec. 16, 1930 GEORGE J.oonronon, or roR'rLAnnfMAInE TABLE-LEG LATCH ,Application filed January18, 1929. Serial No. 333,299.

. The object of the invention is generally to provide a latch adapted topositively retain a swinging member in different angular positions towhich it may be moved and particu- 1 :6 larly to provide a deviceadapted to serve as a means for retaining the legs of a folding table'inthe folded orextending positions; to

provide a latch carried and actuated by the swinging member orleg andprovided with a keeper fixed with respect to the axis'of swingingmovement of the member, the latch being formed with spacedv seats onopposite sides 'and'spring'actuated to engage either of the seats withthe keeper; and to provide-a de- 15 vice which is of simple form andtherefore susceptible of cheap manufacture and low marketing cost.

l lVith this object in view the invention consists in a construction andcombination-of parts of which a preferredfembodiment is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein: I g 7 Figure 1 is a perspective viewof the corner of a table of the folding leg variety showing theinvention applied in operative position.

' Figure 2 is a sideelevational view of the in vention and adjacentportion of the table leg showing the latter in folded position, theintervening position between folded and ex tended positions beingindicated in dotted lines. V

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the plane indicated by the line 33 ofFigure 2.

The invention is illustrated as applied to the legs of a folding tableand as so used comprises preferably a guide member 10 formed with thebracket plate 11 by whichv it may be secured together with one of theside walls of the guide to the table top 12. The

traversing the slot 17. The latch 18 is of leg 14 is swingingly carriedin the guide on a arcuate form and has a pivotal mounting 19 on the leg,said pivot being surrounded with a spring 20 of which one end isconnected with the latch and the other end with the leg. In theintermediate position of the leg indicated in dotted lines ofFigure 2,the spring is free of tension, but when the leg is in the foldedposition indicated, a torsional strain is applied to the spring in onedirection, so that there is a tendency to swing the upper edgev of thelatch against the upper end of the slot 17. In the open or extendedposition of the leg, the tension is in the opposite direction and thelower edge of the latch is yieldingly impelled towards the bottom end ofthe slot 17 The latch is formed with spaced notches 21 and 22of whichthe former is on the upper edge atan intermediate point in its lengthand the latter on the lower edge adjacent the free i extremity which isoutturned as indicated at 23 to provide an ear with which the fingersmay be engaged to move the latch and which also, by abutting the keeper,acts as a limit ing stock to limit the swinging outward or extendedposition of the leg.

By reason of the spring impelling the latch in one direction in thefolded position of the leg and in the other direction in the extendedposition, the seats or notches 21 and 22 are respectively engaged withthe upper or lower end of the keeper slot depending on whether the legbe in the folded or extended positions. In either position, the leg ispositively held, but is readily released by swinging the latch by meansof the ear 23, to disengage the connected seat when the adjustment ofthe leg may follow.

The inner wall of the guide is cut away as indicated at 24 to provide aclearance space for thelatch pivot and actuating spring when the leg isin folded position.

The invention havin been described what is claimed as new and useful is:I

1. A latch, aswinging member, and a keep- Z er fixed with reference tothe axisof swinging movement of said member, the latch having spacedseats for respective engagement with the keeper in either of two extremepositions of movement of said member, the seats the table, the latchhaving-spaced formed with akeeper through whichthe latch slidesand withwhich the seats are engaged being on opposite sides of the latch and thelatter being spring actuated to yieldingly engage either of the seatswith the keeper depending on the position of the swinging member.

2. A device for the purpose indicated comprising, in combination with atable having a swinging leg, a latch pivotally mounted on the leg, and akeeper fixed with reference to a the table, the latch having spacedseats for v engagement with the keeper respectively in the extended andfolded positions of the leg, the seats being disposed on opposite sidesof the latch and the latter being yieldingly impelled in oppositepositions depending on the extendedand folded positions of the'leg,

the latch having an operative connection with the leg to engage one orthe other of the seats with the keeper depending on whether the vleg bein folded' or extended position, a

"- ll. A device for thefpurpose indicated comprising aguid openontheunder side, a leg having its upper end disposed between'the sidewalls of the guideand' pivotally mountt ed with respect to the latterfor swinging movement into alignment with orwat right angles;to thesame,aklat ch memberhavmg'a pivotalinountingonthe leg and being providedwith spaced: seats, the guide being respectivelyin the folded andextendedlpositions of the-leg. a a a 5. A device for the purposeindicated comprising a guide open on the under side, a leg gaging meansto hold the leg in a different position.

7. In a table, a top, a leg connected thereto for movement into eitherof two positions, a keeper secured to the top, and a latch pivotallyconnected to the leg and cooperating with the keeper, said latch havingkeeper-engaging means in one edge to hold the leg in one position andkeeper-engaging means in anopposite edge to hold the leg in theotherposition. 1

8.. IILCOHlblIlL'tIOH an element, a member swingmgly connected theretofor movement into either. of two'positions relative to the elemerit, alatch, a keeper fixed to the element and formed to permit movement oithe-latch therethroug'h, said latch being formedin op; "poslteedges andad acent the respective ends with keeper engaging means'for cooperationwith thekeeper 1n the of said member, and a single means operative to.influence,; the latch towardkeeperengaging positions in each oftherespective ,positions of the member.

9.: A table, a leg swmgingly connected theretgakeeper formed with a slotcarried respective positions by theitable, a latch operative thrugh theslot in] the keeper and pivotally carriedlby the leg, .a keeper:engaging notch formed in one edge of the latch-near one end thereof,:

a keeper-engaging notch formed inthe opposite edge of the latch near theopposite vend thereof, and asingle sprrn'gtensioned by therelativemovements-of the latch and leg to move the latchinto keeperengaging relationat the respective limit movements. of the leg relativeto the'table; V

In testimonywhereof l my signature.

GEORGE J. CORPORON,

having itsgupper vend disposed between the side walls of the guideandpivotallymounted'with respect'to the latterv for swinging movementinto alignment .with. orat right an les to the same a latch member havina a a v 7 2:

pivotal mounting on the leg-and beingpro- "vided with spaced. seats,

the guide being formed with a keeper through which the latch slides andwith which the seats are engaged respectively in the folded and extendedpositions of" the leg, the seats being formed on opposite sides of thelatch, and aspring yieldingly. impelling the latch either to one side orthe other or" its pivotal connection depend- 'ingl on the relativepositions of the leg and uide. I V 6. In a table leg latch, apivotedleg, a keeper with which the latch is designed to interlockin differentpositions of said leg, said latchbeing formedin one edge with keeperengaging means to hold the leg in one position and in the oppositeedgewithkeeper en

